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Defence Spending

All articles tagged with #defence spending

NATO Summit in Ankara: Unity on Ukraine Masks Rift over Spending and Trust
world2 days ago

NATO Summit in Ankara: Unity on Ukraine Masks Rift over Spending and Trust

At NATO’s Ankara summit, leaders pledged more than €70 billion to Ukraine and over $50 billion in new procurements, reaffirmed Article 5, and signaled unity on Ukraine policy, but US President Donald Trump publicly attacked allies over defense spending and threatened a Spain embargo, underscoring ongoing strains. He also floated lifting sanctions on Turkey and potential F-35 sales, while Europe pushes for greater defense autonomy and a new UK–Netherlands maritime partnership, leaving experts to warn that NATO unity remains fragile and dependent on US commitments.

Trump targets Spain and reopens Greenland bid at NATO summit
world3 days ago

Trump targets Spain and reopens Greenland bid at NATO summit

At a NATO summit in Ankara, US President Donald Trump attacked Spain as a 'wasted cause' and a 'terrible partner' and threatened to cut trade, while reviving his long-standing push to have Greenland belong to the US instead of Denmark. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said relations with the US are positive and highlighted Spain’s defense commitments (2% of GDP in 2025) and its refusal to host US bases at Morón and Rota. Trump argued that NATO allies owe the US more for security, reiterated Greenland’s strategic importance to the US, and noted that Denmark and Greenland say Greenland is not for sale. The EU stressed mutual trade benefits with the US, and all 32 NATO members pledged their commitment to Article Five.}

Canada picks TKMS to build Arctic-capable submarine fleet
world4 days ago

Canada picks TKMS to build Arctic-capable submarine fleet

Canada has selected Germany’s TKMS to build 12 diesel-powered, Arctic-capable submarines, with about four planned by 2034, marking Ottawa’s biggest defence push and a shift closer to Europe. The deal includes joint German–Norwegian collaboration, logistics and maintenance, and could be scuppered if negotiations fail, in which case Ottawa would consider Hanwha Ocean; the decision comes amid NATO security concerns and debates over long-term defence spending and US-Canada ties.

Canada taps TKMS to build its Arctic-ready submarine fleet
world5 days ago

Canada taps TKMS to build its Arctic-ready submarine fleet

Canada selected German firm TKMS to build a 12‑submarine fleet in the largest defence procurement in its history, with negotiations to sign a contract and no cost disclosed. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the deal would boost industrial capacity and Arctic sovereignty as Canada raises defence spending to 2% of GDP (aiming for 5% by 2035) and strengthens ties with Europe through a NATO-aligned partnership with Norway on a low‑risk, multi‑year program designed to keep three submarines reliably operational at once.

MHI CEO: Car Plants Not Suited for Military Drones
aerospace-and-defence5 days ago

MHI CEO: Car Plants Not Suited for Military Drones

Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries chief Eisaku Ito warns that converting idle car factories into drone production would be a costly mistake, arguing that drone specifications constantly change and car plants aren’t built to produce low-volume, highly variable military systems; he envisions MHI playing a central, flexible role in Tokyo’s drone push as defence budgets rise and the Shield coastal defence programme seeks to deploy thousands of unmanned aircraft.

PMQs clash over defence funding: Badenoch accuses Starmer of leaving £5bn short
politics10 days ago

PMQs clash over defence funding: Badenoch accuses Starmer of leaving £5bn short

Kemi Badenoch grills Keir Starmer at PMQs over the defence investment plan, accusing him of leaving a £5bn funding shortfall for Andy Burnham to cover; Starmer defends the plan as a £300bn, four-year upgrade—the largest defence increase in 40 years—funded by identified savings and headroom from the Budget, as Ed Davey pushes for a stronger missile defence.

Britain's Defence Investment Plan pivots to drones and deterrence with £298bn
politics11 days ago

Britain's Defence Investment Plan pivots to drones and deterrence with £298bn

Britain's long-awaited Defence Investment Plan pledges £298bn over the next four years—£15bn more than previously and the biggest uplift since the Cold War—yet critics say it underfunds defence at about 2.7% of GDP by 2030 (NATO target 3%). The plan pivots toward cheaper, autonomous systems and drones, with £63bn for the nuclear deterrent, £8bn for a UK-led next-generation RAF stealth aircraft, and a push to hybrid crews. It also funds replenishing Ukraine aid (£11bn), air/missile defence (£790m), and protection of undersea cables (£330m). The Army grows to ~76,000; some programmes are cut (e.g., Type 83 destroyers, Storm Shadow replacement), and expansion of Cadets is delayed.

Five European powers unite to shore up Ukraine ahead of NATO summit
world17 days ago

Five European powers unite to shore up Ukraine ahead of NATO summit

France, the UK, Italy, Poland and Germany met in Berlin for an E5 summit to coordinate Ukraine support, commit to defence spending, and advance joint capabilities ahead of NATO's July summit in Ankara, building on the Évian moment and expanding the E3 framework to include Warsaw's input while signaling Europe’s push to share more security responsibilities amid a U.S. drawdown and Russia-focused tensions.

UK to publish contested Defence Investment Plan amid leadership transition
politics18 days ago

UK to publish contested Defence Investment Plan amid leadership transition

Downing Street says the government will press ahead with the controversial Defence Investment Plan and publish it before the NATO summit, despite Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation as prime minister and Labour leader. The plan’s publication and the broader defence funding package, which has already prompted ministerial resignations, could be revisited by a future leader, complicating the government’s credibility with allies and shaping the response of a coming prime minister.

US to reexamine Europe footprint as NATO burden-sharing tightens
world23 days ago

US to reexamine Europe footprint as NATO burden-sharing tightens

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six‑month review of American forces in Europe, criticizing allies for not meeting defence spending targets and signaling planned withdrawals (including about 5,000 troops from Germany) and the cancellation of a long‑range fire battalion deployment. Washington also floated pulling major assets—one carrier strike group and submarines capable of launching cruise missiles—aimed at reshaping the NATO force model as talks ahead of the Ankara summit unfold and pushing burden-sharing to the forefront.

Healey resigns over underfunded defence plan amid rising threats
world29 days ago

Healey resigns over underfunded defence plan amid rising threats

British Defence Secretary John Healey has resigned, accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Treasury of underfunding the Defence Investment Plan as threats rise; the DIP aims to lift spending to about 2.68% of GDP by 2030, but Healey says urgent resources are needed in the first two years to boost readiness, and his departure adds pressure on a Labour government already delaying the DIP and the GCAP fighter program.

Healey resigns over defence funding shortfall in Starmer's government
politics1 month ago

Healey resigns over defence funding shortfall in Starmer's government

Defence Secretary John Healey has resigned, accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government of offering a defence investment plan that falls short of what the armed forces need, arguing the funding increase of about 0.08% of GDP is insufficient to reach 2.68% by 2030. The move follows bruising budget talks with the chancellor and comes amid a wave of resignations, prompting questions about Starmer’s leadership, even as government aides insist the country remains safer under his approach.